Tuesday, April 28, 2015

By George AnastasiaFor Bigtrial.net
One defense witness said he considers the ongoing police corruption trial a "kangaroo court" and that he can't wait until the six defendants are "set free."

Another called Thomas Liciardello, the lead defendant in the corruption case, an "outstanding investigator" and a "dedicated" police officer "committed to removing narcotics and guns" from the streets of Philadelphia.

Several others contradicted key bits of testimony from drug dealers called by the prosecution earlier in the trial.

That was the scene today in U.S. District Court as the defense called a parade of witnesses in the ongoing racketeering trial of six narcotics officers.

Was it a question of brothers in blue circling the wagons in an us-against-them standoff? Or was it, as defense attorneys claim, the other side of the story, the side that federal prosecutors and FBI agents made no attempt to document as the case was built against Liciardello and five other members of the Philadelphia Police Department's Narcotics Field Unit?

The fifth week of the trial opened with a verbal barrage aimed at the prosecution's case. Testimony from nearly a dozen members of the Police Department, including several supervisors, was designed to contradict and undermine the linchpins of the criminal indictment.

It was the Roshomon effect, Philadelphia style. Same story. But told from a decidedly different perspective and with a clearly different spin.

For four weeks the jury has heard tales of planted evidence, stolen cash and drugs and falsified police reports flowing from the witness stand as a dozen admitted drug dealers and one dirty cop have testified for the prosecution. Their testimony has supported the racketeering indictment that alleges that the six rogue cops stole more than $500,000 in cash, drugs and other valuables and then filed phony reports to cover their tracks.

The defense, which started presenting its case on Friday, has offered witness after witness to refute those claims. Today it was more of the same.

Two examples:

Last week, Rodolfo Blanco told the jury that he was not, as police claimed, a heroin dealer. He also said that heroin and a loaded AK 47 assault rifle that police said they found in his home during a raid were planted and that $12,000 confiscated during that raid was cash from the sale of a van. He also claimed he was held hostage for four days in a hotel and forced to set up drug dealers who were subsequently arrested. Finally, he said, police reported confiscating $5,960, not $12,000, in the raid.

Today Lt. Charles Jackson, who said he was on the scene when police raided Blanco's barbershop and apartment in the 4600 block Frankford Avenue, said of Blanco, "He had drugs. He had money and he had the gun." He also said the van that Blanco claimed to have sold, was parked behind the apartment.

Jackson scoffed at the idea that a police raiding party would carry an assault rifle into an apartment and plant it there. He also said Blanco had agreed to cooperate and that the plan to hold him at a hotel was approved by supervisors and part of a legitimate drug investigation.

"Was he taken hostage?" defense attorney Jack McMahon asked at one point.

"Absolutely not," Jackson replied.

Also last week Theodore Carobine described how police had broken down his door and swarmed through his apartment in the 9400 block of Kirkwood Drive. Carobine testified that he was not a drug dealer; that meth allegedly found in his apartment had been planted, and that police took $11,000 out of his safe but listed only $8,000 in an arrest report. The cash, Carobine said, was savings set aside to pay his daughter's nursing school tuition.

Carobine, a plumber, said he spent five weeks in jail, but that the charges against him were thrown out of court when a judge agreed with his defense attorney's challenge of the search warrant. He said he is currently suing the city and the police department.

But today Lt. Thomas Wixted, who said he was on the scene for the raid, testified that all the cash taken from the safe was immediately placed in an evidence bag and sealed and that he maintained control of that bag. He also said that when Carobine was shown a Ziploc bag containing meth that was found in his bedroom, he broke down and cried, telling police, "I fucked up. You guys got me. I'm selling that to put my daughter through nursing school."

Testimony throughout the day continued along those lines. Several witnesses contradicted the testimony of drug dealers who said Liciardello and other members of the unit showed up on raids dressed in black and wearing ski masks and did not immediately identify themselves as police.

No one ever wore a mask, several witnesses said today. And during any raid, everyone wore bullet-proof vests clearly labeled POLICE.

The testimony led to some heated cross-examination by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Wzorek.

The prosecutor challenged Jackson on his selective memory after the lieutenant said he could not remember how police got into Blanco's apartment and how many people were present. Blanco said his wife and five children were there when police, waving guns, busted down the door.

After Wzorek pointed to several other vague recollections, Jackson said, "Do I remember every detail? No. What I do remember is the AK47, $5,960 in cash and 260 grams heroin recovered inside that location."

Wzorek also clashed with Wixted, getting the lieutenant to acknowledge that Carobine's statement -- Wzorek called it a "confession" -- was never mentioned in any police report and that the first time he told anyone about it was when he was questioned by the FBI earlier this year.

Wixted said he thought the statement "wasn't needed" because the evidence seized that day was so strong. He also said Carobine had not been "Mirandized" (read his rights about self-incrimination) and for that reason the statement would not have been admissible.

Police officer Sean O'Malley also testified that he heard Carobine make the same statement on the day of the raid. O'Malley and Wzorek clashed continually during cross-examination.

A 14-year veteran of the narcotics unit, O'Malley described Liciardello as "probably the best narcotics officer I've ever worked with. He's abrasive, but very good at what he does."

Conversely, he said Jeffrey Walker, a member of the squad who has pleaded guilty to robbing a drug dealer and who has testified for the prosecution, "was the opposite. Very lazy (and) couldn't do a job on his own."

Wzorek asked O'Malley if he had called the trial a kangaroo court on a Facebook posting in which he also wrote that he "can't wait to see the defendants set free."

"Yes sir," O'Malley said, adding, "I don't want to see innocent people go to the jail."

"Neither do I," said Wzorek.

The prosecutor then questioned O'Malley in detail about a statement he had given the FBI in which O'Malley described Liciardello as loud, abrasive and cocky. He also was asked if he had told agents that Liciardello would threaten drug dealers by telling them their children would be taken away from them and that female members of their family would be arrested and would be abused in prison.

O'Malley conceded making those statements but insisted that Wzorek was distorting the issue and missing the point. The prosecutor asked if O'Malley had said Liciardello would tell dealers "their wives and daughters would get fucked while they (the drug dealers) were in prison?"

"Not their daughters," O'Malley said, adding that "You got to understand. He was trying to give them (the drug dealers) something to think about" as they were being asked to cooperate.

At another point, when the prosecutor was hammering away at O'Malley's inability to remember details, the police officer said he was being asked about events that had happened six years ago and "I don't remember every single detail of every investigation."

Then he shot a look at the prosecutor and asked, "What time did you brush your teeth this morning?"

Wzorek asked Judge Eduardo Robreno to instruct the witness to answer, and not ask, questions. But before he posed another query, the prosecutor said, "It was 5:30."

The animosity building between the prosecution team and the police defense witnesses is expected to continue and perhaps peak tomorrow when Sgt. Joseph McCloskey, who supervised the six defendants, continues his testimony.

McCloskey was on the stand for about 40 minutes today and was questioned primarily about police procedures. The prosecution has portrayed him as a "don't ask, don't tell" supervisor who allowed Liciardello to run the squad. It was part of an overall institutional approach that rewarded results regardless of how they were obtained, the government contends.

Supervisors looked the other way, the government has alleged, because Liciardello and his squad members had a high arrest rate and confiscated significant quantities of drugs and cash. The prosecution contends that some of those drugs were put back on the street and some of the cash ended up in the pockets of the officers making those cases.

McCloskey, described by O'Malley as a no nonsense, by the book, boss, is expected to refute those contentions.

Asked this afternoon to describe Liciardello, the veteran police sergeant said, "Tommy Liciardello is an outstanding investigator and police officer. I don't think I've ever met a police officer more dedicated to removing narcotics and guns" from the streets of Philadelphia.

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comments:

Ok are you people seeing the big picture nowtrue honest men on the stand with years of knowledge of how a investigation is done. Evidence handled by proper protocol and ill go a little further the word credible witnesses sound Just about right. Come on lets not stop now say it with me come on all you haters together its on the tip of your tongue Character good Job one more ill say it for you integrity put it all together and you get NOT GUILTY . Now these guys are Police officers not convicts looking for a reduce sentence or corrupt cops charged with anything. Just honest everyday police officers and family men who go about there business everyday protecting citizens like me and you and have no reason to lie. Because there no carrott dangling in front of them nothing to gain but tell the truth and go about there bussiness as usual. That is how its done. PLEASE READ ARTICLE BEFORE COMMENTING THANK YOU !!!!

what are you trying to say,? just because a couple of supervisors talk good about them that means you're not guilty, I'm sure somebody at some time talked good about Hitler, and John Gotti, Ted Bundy, I'm sure there's someone to talk good about these people, but it doesn't make them not guilty, wake up!!, today look like a sentencing hearing instead of A trial! where you talk good about a guy before the judge sentence.you.I was one of his victims, Tommy L is a psychopath, that should have never been a cop!

Your comment contradicts itself. "Just because a couple of supervisors talk good about them means they're not guilty". Ok so a bunch of drug dealers talk bad about them (while offering no actual proof) and that makes them guilty in your mind. You have completely discredited yourself.

They are "innocent"????? Why? Because supervisors and lieutenants in higher ranked positions have testified because now their jobs are on the line and under scrutiny??? Are you so naïve to think that officers of higher ranks are never involved with or aware of corruption? C'MON!! WAKE UP!

Kangaroo Court. Can't wait till these guys get to Hop outta there. Not Guilty. The defense will put up 20 other police officers of all ranks from all different departments who will not once get caught in a lie and idiots will still get on here writing gibberish. I hope you guys didn't spend your civil suits before ya got em!

I can.t believe this is happening in this day and age. All this bullshit is about these 6 doing there jobs and in the process probably stumbled over a federal investigation and this is the end result. Now all this embarassment for both departments is very sad and for Judge Robreno to let this continue is virtually absurd im pretty sure by know the Jury has a pretty good idea what.s going on here. Its a pissing contest and safe to say the feds will lose this one But whats really sad the taxpayers money wasted on this trial .The money these 6 will get from the lawsuits especially TOMMY when this is all said and done for the mental anguish he.s endored in lockup and there familys is gonna be off the charts. Safe to say some fellows will be losing there jobs or retiring after this debacle.

The Feds don't understand how street level crime is investigated. If the Police officers took as long to finish an investigation as the Feds nothing would ever get done, and these drug dealing predators would be taking over our city. Wake up and stop persecuting good cops for doing their job. End this charade of a trial.

This is a complete waste of taxpaers money. How many years did it take for the FBI to make this case?. The cops are fine policemen and family men. I feel for their families. Tommy should be promoted after this and form a task force to investigate the Feds and that includes you Mr. Sorry ass prosecutor or should I say persecutor. How many cases have you lost in the last few years.Time retire buddy. Give up buco. The jury has an easy decision to make. Best of luck and thanksfor risking your lives to get the drugs off the street. Can you say LAWSUITS

your nuts, crazy little Tommy L is a freaking psychopath,I know because I was looking in his eyes when he was victimizing me, he is crazy and needs help, and he's a thief... and I know crazy Tommy knowsthat I am telling the truth. he is going to jail for a long time unless he rats on someone,

I believe the proper word is YOU'RE nuts, meaning you - person directly above. You were victimized by Tommy and his crew - that's so sad!! was that before or after you sold drugs to an addict and helped them destroy their lives some more? I bet your family was devastated when you were arrested too - did you care about them when you were hustling the streets for your next victim? Did you think that the person you just sold drugs to is somebody's son or daughter, mother or father, sister or brother. someone that is loved very much, battling a disease more deadly than cancer? No, I bet you weren't, you selfless, worthless, piece of garbage!

Well I see traffic got a little lighter reality is setting in. And yes anonymous 9.34 call these 6 guys hillbillies Jerkoffs Dirty and the list could go on but Just don.t call them Guilty. That my little haters safe to say is.nt gonna happen here. May be now you can call brother Sharpie to come to your neighbor hood have a little protest how use convicts were wronged but you better pass the can he doesn.t come for free.But he might be a little busy. See your brother and sisters are busy burning and causing more chaos because they also feel the Baltimore city police department is no good also. May be you can lend them this team of federal investigators and US prsecutors to listen to there lies i mean cries how Bailtimore city PD are wrong for doing there Jobs also. See a trend here when you don.t get your way commit more crimes that always works. And you wonder why Society Judges you the way they do. Hats off to that Mom in Baltimore for bitch slapping her Son on TV for being in the wrong place at the wrong time a little more decipline at home and less blaming others is a fine starting point and may be someone will meet you half way for your concerns.

The only people that should be offended are the people who see them selves fit in that category, and those types of people don't care who they offend so Don't worry about the disclaimer JB. Sometimes the truth hurts, not that hearing the truth will change their behavior- instead they will pull the racist card to justify I.e your protesting how one of your "brothas" died in police custody so you go loot a mall and steal clothing and eletronics ? Although I'm aware That has nothing to do with the subject at hand but I would LOVE for one of them to justify and explain that. These 6 men were not dealing with your sweet Italian grandmother everyday they were dealing with people that most of us get nervous when your GPS gets you lost and you have to find your way out of their neighborhood even if it's the middle of the afternoon. So for those of you who are claiming to be their "victims" or are crying that they yelled in front of your relatives. I'm sorry they didn't show up with flowers and ask you nicely where you keep your drugs and money using the manners their parents taught them. Why don't you assholes take a look at your sorry selves in the mirror because if it wasn't for your criminal scumbag behavior you wouldn't have been on their radar in the first place.

Are the FBI that naïve that they would believe all of these drug dealers and their fabrications. Of course they want to get back at the cops and get paid from a civil claim. A whole lot more corroboration should have been done before going forward with this case. It's bizarre that the case is based on tales from a bunch of criminals.

This my friend is what happens when you appoint incompetent people in position of leadership who are lacking in years of on the Job hands on experience and protocol . And that starts with The US Attorney General office right down to the locals. U should be promoted on your know how knowledge of the Job and years doing it. Not because of political favors. And if you wanna start cleaning Phila PD corruption start with COMMISIONER CHARLES CHUCK RAMSEY I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS. THAT IS AS GOOD OF PLACE AS ANY AND WORK FROM THERE BY RATTELING THE BUSHES TO CHASE THE SNAKES. BUT WHAT DO I KNOW RIGHT IM JUST A TAX PAYING WORKING CLASS CITIZEN POSTING ON BIG TRIAL WHAT SENSE COULD I MAKE?

Its the way the feds do business, they get witnesses that are facing jail time to testify against the people they are prosecuting . In return the feds promise them no jail time or a reduced sentence. Its usually someone that they have something on, such as drugs or theft. This should have been handled by Internal Affairs, not the federal prosecutors. Federal prosecutors and the FBI have nothing to fear, they are never prosecuted for bringing bogus charges and indictments against innocent citizens. The country is in a state of emergency thanks to the judicial system.

This has nothing to do with incompetent people being promoted, that will never stop it happens in all levels of the workplace and society, what has to happen fast is we need people to have integrity , honesty, humility, compassion and courage toward their fellow citizens. America needs to follow new moral compass dedicated to bettering each city, state and the nation. Its every man for himself, nothing is for the good of others or the good of the country. Federal prosecutors have lost their way and are taking the country with them. Look where we are headed.

I wonder why the Inquirer did not run the bombshell story the Washington Post ran April 19,2015 the Justice Department and the FBI formally admitted to flawed testimony over a 20 year period. 95 % of the testimony given was wrong, 32 people were sentence to death, 14 of that number are now dead. Thousands sent to jail. I suppose it might make the Justice Dept and the FBI look bad during this police trial. Google it Washing Post FBI Hair Analysis.

Me and the fellas came to this conclusion this morning: The ex police officer Tom will prob have to get found guilty no matter what, just so the city and courts save face(a scape goat). Ex police officer Norman may get found guilty because of some of Ex police officer Walkers testimony(another scape goat). All other ex police officers will be found not guilty. E.L.50

Well here.s the deal they got nothing on any of them so you and the fellows go back to your cubby holes and do what ever you fellows do im sure its not narcotics but let the jury decide there will no scape goats here Just somebodys ass when all 6 are found not guilty and theres no spinning that fellows.You should be ashamed of your selves for not backing your brothers but hey they didn.t need your sorry low life asses they.ll be Just fine. Positive thinking here no nay sayers or haters

Ridiculous that this has been allowed to get started, let alone continue. What a sorry excuse for a case the FBI and prosecutors have portrayed. I can't wait to see how much the 6 receive for intentional infliction of emotional distress. It's a shame when officers are doing their jobs to rid the streets of scum and get caught up in this hot mess.

"Another called Thomas Liciardello, the lead defendant in the corruption case, an "outstanding investigator" and a "dedicated" police officer "committed to removing narcotics and guns" from the streets of Philadelphia."ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT HE COLLECTED HAZARD AND VACATION PAY FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THESE MAJOR DRUG DEALERS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, WITHOUT AN ANCILLARY CONTRACT - ROBBING THE ALLEGED BAD GUYS DOES NOT MAKE EVERYTHING OK LEGAL AND DESERVE PRAISE - GUILTY A THOUSAND TIMES

Robbing the ALLEGED bag guys LMAO. I'm pretty sure they have all had priors and some have even been arrested since, you can drop the word alleged. You can however put that in the sentence where the police officers ALLEGEDLY robbed these drug dealers. Where's the money? I don't care how smart you are you can't find 6 people to cover a paper trail for a decade. Where's the proof these people had that amount of money stolen? Things such as a "FEFA check" the "sale of a van" a "disability check" these things are easily traceable, but that's right, the criminals had no proof of this and the Feds "looked in to it, but were unsuccessful" the people on here that do support these men, we dont have to convince the rest of you but for the love of god at least read the articles, take a look at the facts VS he say she say.

Thomas Liciardello suffers from drawf syndrome . When He has his badge He is 6ft tall . Everybody in narcotics knows this bum is a thief . He is little guy with a big mouth . That will come in handy for him in he is when Jail with Bubba !!!!!! .

What about Fat Johnny McNesby when is He going to jail ? The guy is living in a 600 hundred thousand home . That survivor fund money comes in handy . Maybe Fat Johnny will hire Liciardello when he gets out of jail , to watch his money belt . Maybe he can wash his 5,000 thousand dollar golf cart ,or take care of his shore property .

The feds should look into the survivor fund .80% cash flow . I think its flowing into McNESBY pocket .I remember Him at court years ago ,the guy didn't have money for coffee . He sure got fat from the FOP . I do not mean is weight . His wallet and all His drones on the payroll

Big bubba wont want Tom L ass hole its leaking shit out of all the time. Tom L lawyer asked the judge to let tom L out on medical house arrest for his disorder(heard from some little bird in court room) and the judge said no way!!!

John Mcnesby,Please have anonymous 11:35 over for dinner and then out for a ride in your golf cart, he's OBSESSED.Sincerely, All of us that are tired of reading his post about your 600.000$ house and your 5000$ Golf cart.

How did some of you sorry waste of plasma ever friggin past the exam for being a cop did they grade on a curve or have idiot day because use realy don.t get it for being cops proof my lacky sorry souls and the feds don.t have any. I don.t know any of these individuals but i hate seeing scumbags ruin 6 careers or anybodys for that matter. Get the facts or don.t poat geez

Stop it just ask Tony Boyle .He knows these bums are guilty . Liciardello did not follow proper police procedures . When he's is found guilty ,His ace in the hole to feds will be Werner and Blackburn .He will give them up .They will be arrested and the cycle of corruption , continues with more arrest .

To the douchebags on here. To the guy in love with Boyle. GET OFF HIS JOCK ALREADT AND SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY..... To the FELLAS who know so much, how many days of testimony have you and thr FELLAS sat and listened to......PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY.....To the guy who is obsessed with Tommy's ass. PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY....The the total douchebag who is obsessed withcNesby, I heard he just boughthis wife a jet, his daughter porche, is having pools put in at his homes in Florida, Ocean City, and the 600,000 house. and he opened a bank account in the Cayman Islands.... So PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY.....To the guy obsessed with Bubba, sounds like you guys met and you really enjoyed your time with him. Yes you toSHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY.....To the HATERS,JEALOUS COPS WHO COULDNT MAKE IT IN A REAL DISTRICT OR UNIT, THE STREET LAWYERS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY..........

Chief Inspector Boyle got more honor then Werner and Blackburn . Philadelphia narcotics cops need better supervisors in that unit . Make Chief inspector Smalls Police Commissioner , Time for changes in the third floor . The cess pool in narcotics needs to be cleaned out .

What exactly is a insider???? Would that be, a) a lying drug dealer, b) a frustrated angry cop, c) the news media, d) the rumor mill, e) the person who hasnt listened to any testimony by actually sitting in the courtroom. Please explain

Might as well be M.T. about 10 yrs ago they had a show on TV about the inner city neighbor hoods someone wanted to do a show about North philly M.T and call it the Bad lands but the politicians got a little upset. They changed the name and i think they did different citys across america does anyone remember that.

I did get a chance to read it last nite Kinda ironic is.nt it. While wrte on the subject i seen a survey where more whites were shot last year by cops than blacks. 424 for whites 233 for blacks no protest by whites though. Am i missing something i did not look it up myself it was shown to me. So my reasearch was.nt done kusy quoting.

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